We have a mini-theme today of budget gadgets for audio, the Dr. Meter MS 10 sound level meter is on sale for $12 in the yellow/black color scheme by a marketplace seller with the order fulfilled by Amazon. This is a design that sells under different brands and outer shells. It is fairly basic, it is powered by one 9V battery, has a standard tripod socket (good use for the budget selfie sticks with a screw). It does not take a continuous reading, I forgot whether it’s once per second or something like that. I have to find mine, I’m not sure where I put it 🙂 It’s not a professional tool, but then again, it’s not a professional price either 🙂

Check also further down the product page under “Special offers and product promotions” for combined purchase promotions from the same seller. This is not a lightning deal.

If you want a basic stand-alone hand-held hardware sound meter (not a phone app), the “Dr Meter MS10”, a device that appears to be sold in various brands and skins is currently on sale for $14 with coupon code UYZ98DYT offered by a marketplace seller with the order fulfilled by Amazon.

It averages 4.1 out of 5 based on 230 customer reviews, and has 29 questions answered. It promises to be +/- 1.5 dB and measures in 0.1 dBA steps. They are powered by a 9V battery. They take measurements every few seconds, it is not always measuring. It can also be mounted on tripod-type devices, perhaps a good use of selfie sticks 🙂

Let the price set expectations. I have a similar-looking one from a different brand but I can’t find it 🙂

PS: the page there has a handy “How Loud is Too Loud” picture in the gallery, picture #4 over there, showing examples of “real world sounds” from 10 dB to 145 dB. Sorry audiophiles, you only allowed to watch firework shows on a TV 🙂 Kids may use this to lobby their parents against doing the grass (“look ma/pa, the lawnmower is in the RED ZONE, no can do!”).